Frito-Lay's Caffeinated Cracker Jacks Cause Health Group Outrage

The caffeinated food craze continues. The latest addition to the market is Cracker Jack'D, an energy-boosted version of Cracker Jacks. While the product might be a fun snack for adults, health advocacy groups are concerned that it will inevitably end up in kids' hands.

According to the New York Daily News, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is outraged by the addition of caffeine to everyday, kid-friendly foods such as water, jellybeans, and Cracker Jacks. CSPI executive director, Michael F. Jacobson, explained, "The way things are going, I fear that we'll see caffeine, or coffee, being added to ever-more improbable drinks and snacks, putting children, unsuspecting pregnant women and others at risk."

Frito-Lay has taken the familiar stance that this product was, "specifically developed for adult consumers and will not be marketed to children," as stated by spokesperson Chris Kuechenmeister. Yet while many products are not marketed to children, kids seek them out anyway. This proves true with a range of products, including all sorts of junk foods.

Jacobson and the CSPI are hopeful that the FDA will speak up about unlikely caffeinated items such as Cracker Jack'D. The CSPI is certain that this new product will be consumed by children, possibly in excess, despite its unique packaging and small warning label.

Do you think it's safe to have caffeinated items on the market that are otherwise kid-friendly? Would you eat the new Cracker Jack'D snack?